Alex Padilla

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Dominga Bustamante, a selfless community leader and an adored mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who passed away in May at the age of 89. Dominga Bustamante's family first migrated to California in search of agricultural work and settled in the town of Dinuba, CA, in Tulare County. It was there that she would meet her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Cruz Bustamante Jr., with whom she would have six children: Cruz, Belinda, Dorothy, Ron, Andrew, and Naomi. But it was further west in San Joaquin, CA, where Dominga would make her biggest impact. Though she held no elected office and had no formal obligation to serve, her personal moral convictions and her deep religious values made her a relentless force for good. She was the unofficial ``Welcome Host'' to Hindu and Sikh families moving to town, an ally to families trying to secure Social Security benefits, and a friend to seniors who needed a ride to appointments. She split her time between serving as a bilingual instructional aide, a San Joaquin Teen Club adviser and teen anxiety first responder, and even a law enforcement interdiction advocate. She was also a devout Catholic, serving for years as a Catechism teacher in San Joaquin and Fresno. For her dedication, she was recognized by California Latina Leaders in Action with the Lifetime Achievement Award and by the Diocese of Fresno with the Bishop's Catechist Appreciation Certificate. Whether seeking her help after just moving to town, praying alongside her in church, or even joining for her tamale-making parties, countless people felt welcome in California because of Dominga Bustamante. My wife Angela and I pray for Dominga and the entire Bustamante family, and our hearts go out to her 6 children, 13 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Joan Jacobs, who passed away on May 6 at the age of 91. Through her philanthropic efforts, Joan spent decades improving the educational, technological, and cultural landscape of San Diego. Joan Jacobs was born on January 17, 1933, in New York City. She attended Cornell University, where she received her bachelor of science degree in 1954. That same year, she would meet her husband of 70 years, Irwin Jacobs. The couple soon made San Diego their adopted home after Irwin accepted a job at the small engineering school taking shape at UC San Diego. Years later, Irwin cofounded Qualcomm, which has become one of the largest employers in the region. Joan and Irwin began to use their resources to uplift the arts, education, and so many other important causes in San Diego. To this day, San Diegans cannot travel far without feeling the incredible impact that Joan Jacobs left on the region. In 2002, Joan and Irwin donated $120 million to the once-bankrupt San Diego Symphony, allowing it to thrive and once again contribute to the cultural footprint of San Diego. Additionally, the history of UC San Diego cannot be fully told without highlighting the remarkable impact Joan made on its campus. The Jacobs family has infused over $125 million into the UC San Diego School of Engineering. Today, the aptly named Irwin and Joan Jacobs School of Engineering is one of the top engineering schools in the country and boasts the highest enrollment of engineering students on the West Coast. Joan and Irwin also provided $100 million to help develop the Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego, which has become one of the finest teaching hospitals in the country and provides critical specialized care to San Diegans. So many other organizations across San Diego have been the beneficiaries of Joan's generosity, including the San Diego Central Library, the La Jolla Playhouse, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Salk Institute, and the San Diego Food Bank. Joan Jacobs has had an immeasurable impact on the city she loved and the community she served, and her legacy will be felt for generations to come. My heartfelt sympathies go out to my friend and colleague, Representative Sara Jacobs, and the entire Jacobs family. I hope my colleagues will join me in celebrating the extraordinary life of Joan Jacobs.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of my bill to rename an iconic Federal building in San Francisco after my former colleague, mentor, and dear friend, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Dianne was a towering figure not just in modern California politics but in the history of our State and our Nation. She broke barriers throughout her career. Her leadership as the first woman to serve as the mayor of San Francisco in the aftermath of the tragic assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk showcased her unique ability to lead with grace and strength in the face of adversity. This bill would designate the Federal building at 50 United Nations Plaza in San Francisco as the ``Senator Dianne Feinstein Federal Building.'' Located just steps away from San Francisco City Hall, where Dianne served for 18 years, the Federal building is a cornerstone of the San Francisco Civic Center. This Neoclassical building was completed in 1936 as part of the city's efforts to rebuild its Civic Center following the devastation caused by the 1906 earthquake. It received a major renovation in 2013 to upgrade building systems, restore historically significant architecture, and redesign office workspaces. In 2017, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the six-story, 350,000-square-foot Federal building is home to the General Services Administration's Region 9 headquarters as well as Department of Education staff. The building is LEED Platinum certified, a well-known global standard given to the most sustainable and energy- efficient buildings. The building's renovation also received several prestigious awards, including the National Project Achievement Award from the Construction Management Association of America and the Preservation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation. Over the past several months, I have worked to introduce bills that would honor Dianne's lifetime of service by commemorating public spaces in her memory. The Federal building at 50 U.N. Plaza stands as a reminder of the responsibility that the Federal Government holds in serving the public. Dianne spent her life dedicated to that responsibility, and it is only fitting that we honor her by renaming this Federal building in her beloved hometown. I thank Senator Butler for joining me in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill as swiftly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of my bill to rename an iconic Federal building in San Francisco after my former colleague, mentor, and dear friend, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Dianne was a towering figure not just in modern California politics but in the history of our State and our Nation. She broke barriers throughout her career. Her leadership as the first woman to serve as the mayor of San Francisco in the aftermath of the tragic assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk showcased her unique ability to lead with grace and strength in the face of adversity. This bill would designate the Federal building at 50 United Nations Plaza in San Francisco as the ``Senator Dianne Feinstein Federal Building.'' Located just steps away from San Francisco City Hall, where Dianne served for 18 years, the Federal building is a cornerstone of the San Francisco Civic Center. This Neoclassical building was completed in 1936 as part of the city's efforts to rebuild its Civic Center following the devastation caused by the 1906 earthquake. It received a major renovation in 2013 to upgrade building systems, restore historically significant architecture, and redesign office workspaces. In 2017, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the six-story, 350,000-square-foot Federal building is home to the General Services Administration's Region 9 headquarters as well as Department of Education staff. The building is LEED Platinum certified, a well-known global standard given to the most sustainable and energy- efficient buildings. The building's renovation also received several prestigious awards, including the National Project Achievement Award from the Construction Management Association of America and the Preservation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation. Over the past several months, I have worked to introduce bills that would honor Dianne's lifetime of service by commemorating public spaces in her memory. The Federal building at 50 U.N. Plaza stands as a reminder of the responsibility that the Federal Government holds in serving the public. Dianne spent her life dedicated to that responsibility, and it is only fitting that we honor her by renaming this Federal building in her beloved hometown. I thank Senator Butler for joining me in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill as swiftly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, when I was a kid growing up, the last thing I thought I would do when I grew up was to be involved with government and politics. But when I returned home from college, I came home to California to find hateful TV ads warning of an ``invasion'' at our border. These were in support of a ballot measure demonizing immigrant families and communities like mine. A generation of Latinos in California grew up knowing that officials who were elected to represent us were actually more than happy to scapegoat our families as the root cause of the State's challenges. But instead of just putting our heads down and waiting for the political tides to turn, my generation decided to get involved, and we started a movement that put more people from our communities into positions of power. Now, three decades later, the State of California is not just home to more immigrants than any other State in the Nation; we also represent the largest economy of any State in the Nation. That is not a coincidence. But, sadly, today, we are also seeing some of the same hateful rhetoric once again. And when I hear it, I feel it, and I think about my children and a whole new generation of Latinos across the country that see leaders of the Republican Party demonizing immigrants and people who look like us. Yes. The Republican Presidential nominee warned that immigrants are ``poisoning the blood of our Nation,'' echoing rhetoric from Nazi Germany. That is happening. I have had to come down to this Chamber earlier this year, just a couple of months ago, to object to one of our colleagues seeking to declare an ``invasion at our southern border.'' That is the moment that we are in, and it is an undeniable part of the context in which the bill that we are going to be voting on soon was written. The proposal before us was initially supposed to be a concession, a ransom to be paid to Republicans to pass urgent and critical aid to Ukraine--not my words, theirs. The proposal was 3 months ago. But guess what? We passed the foreign aid. It was the right thing to do. And so I can't help but ask: What is this concession for now? Because it surely cannot be the new starting point for negotiating immigration reform. I am disappointed because this bill contains some of the same tried- and-failed policies that would actually make the situation worse at the southern border. It includes arbitrary border closures and practically eliminates the right to seek asylum for people fleeing for their safety or for their very lives. Now, many of us have acknowledged--both sides of the aisle in both formal conversations and informal conversations--that one of the biggest reasons that so many people come to the southern border is because it is so hard to come to the United States legally. So I look at this bill. And guess what. It fails to address the root causes of migration or to establish more lawful pathways. And it is not just what is in the bill that troubles me; it is what is not in the bill. If enacted, this bill would fail to provide relief for a single Dreamer, for a single farmworker, or a single essential worker or long-term resident of the United States who has been here for years--in some cases decades--working, paying taxes, contributing to the strength of our communities and our country and the success of our economy. So the Senate is voting on this package now for a second time? But still no votes on the Dream Act--which, by the way, does enjoy bipartisan support? It is hard to swallow. And there is more. We hear that there are some extreme Executive actions coming soon. Now, for as much as has been accomplished by this body, this Chamber has also served as a backdrop for some of the most vile rhetoric in our Nation's history. The same hatred that met Irish and Italian immigrants coming through Ellis Island permeated these walls to help pass the Chinese Exclusion Act, before spreading west to villainize immigrants from Mexico and Latin America at our southern border. And every time political leaders villainize immigrants, communities like mine feel the effects. Just ask any Latino kid who has been told to go back to where they came from. Ask anyone speaking Spanish in America who has been told to speak English. Ask any Asian American who was harassed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Colleagues, what chapter of our Nation's history are we choosing to write today? I ask because, yes, there will come a time when history judges us. And what will you say? Will you say that you worked to defend the American dream for future generations? Or settled and denied opportunity for future generations? Today, countless immigrants and children of immigrants will ask whether Republicans and Democrats will leave them behind once again. Colleagues, I urge you to vote no today and to be more thoughtful in how we address border safety. I urge you to join me in staying true to our values in modernizing our immigration system. I urge you to join me today in doing what is right for Dreamers, farmworkers, and other long-term undocumented members of our communities. They deserve better, and we--we--should be better than this. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Agriculture and National Security Act and the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act. These bills aim to bolster the global competitiveness of the United States agricultural sector in emerging biotechnology and to address security vulnerabilities across the food and agriculture sector. Through the work of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, we have developed these proposals aimed at improving coordination between Agencies to accelerate agricultural biotechnology products and to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, in important national security discussions to enhance our capabilities on disease surveillance, food security, agriculture data security, and many other critical issues. Agricultural biotechnology is a rapidly evolving field consisting of traditional breeding techniques and genetic engineering, among other methods, to alter living organisms into new or modified agricultural products for a variety of uses. Advances in agricultural biotechnology provide farmers with tools that can make production more efficient and manageable, which is critical for keeping pace with demands for food and our national security. In 1986, the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology was established to provide for the regulatory oversight of organisms derived through genetic engineering. The approach taken in the Coordinated Framework is grounded in the judgment of the National Academy of Sciences that the potential risks associated with these organisms fall into the same general categories as those created by traditionally bred organisms. The Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act would establish an Office of Biotechnology Policy at the USDA to support internal and interagency coordination, development of biotechnology policies, activities, and regulations, and to consult with biotechnology stakeholders and leaders. The Agriculture and National Security Act would create the position of Senior Advisor for National Security within the USDA Office of the Secretary, appoint a detailee at USDA to liaison with national security Agencies, and direct the USDA to publish a report on national security food chain vulnerabilities. Importantly, this legislation is supported by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which was chartered by Congress to conduct a review of how advancement in emerging biotechnology will shape current and future activities of the Department of Defense. Strengthening America's longstanding leadership in biotechnology through promoting interagency coordination and appointing high-level officials to promote emerging biotechnology issues in agriculture is critical for maintaining national security, trade security, food security, and assessing any vulnerabilities throughout the food and agriculture sector. Moreover, developments in agricultural biotechnology hold immense potential to revolutionize the agricultural sector and enhance food, trade, and economic security, particularly in the face of historic heat waves and rising temperatures caused by the climate crisis. Agricultural biotechnology has allowed scientists to, for example, identify climate-resilient plant genes and species able to withstand weather extremes. Drought, flooding, and wildfires not only pose significant threat to farmers' livelihoods but also reliability in our food systems and consumers. In addition, genetically engineered plants have been bred to tolerate specific herbicides, protect against pests and diseases, and enhance nutritional capacity. I would like to thank Senator Todd Young for introducing these bills with me, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act and the Agriculture and National Security Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Agriculture and National Security Act and the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act. These bills aim to bolster the global competitiveness of the United States agricultural sector in emerging biotechnology and to address security vulnerabilities across the food and agriculture sector. Through the work of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, we have developed these proposals aimed at improving coordination between Agencies to accelerate agricultural biotechnology products and to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, in important national security discussions to enhance our capabilities on disease surveillance, food security, agriculture data security, and many other critical issues. Agricultural biotechnology is a rapidly evolving field consisting of traditional breeding techniques and genetic engineering, among other methods, to alter living organisms into new or modified agricultural products for a variety of uses. Advances in agricultural biotechnology provide farmers with tools that can make production more efficient and manageable, which is critical for keeping pace with demands for food and our national security. In 1986, the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology was established to provide for the regulatory oversight of organisms derived through genetic engineering. The approach taken in the Coordinated Framework is grounded in the judgment of the National Academy of Sciences that the potential risks associated with these organisms fall into the same general categories as those created by traditionally bred organisms. The Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act would establish an Office of Biotechnology Policy at the USDA to support internal and interagency coordination, development of biotechnology policies, activities, and regulations, and to consult with biotechnology stakeholders and leaders. The Agriculture and National Security Act would create the position of Senior Advisor for National Security within the USDA Office of the Secretary, appoint a detailee at USDA to liaison with national security Agencies, and direct the USDA to publish a report on national security food chain vulnerabilities. Importantly, this legislation is supported by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which was chartered by Congress to conduct a review of how advancement in emerging biotechnology will shape current and future activities of the Department of Defense. Strengthening America's longstanding leadership in biotechnology through promoting interagency coordination and appointing high-level officials to promote emerging biotechnology issues in agriculture is critical for maintaining national security, trade security, food security, and assessing any vulnerabilities throughout the food and agriculture sector. Moreover, developments in agricultural biotechnology hold immense potential to revolutionize the agricultural sector and enhance food, trade, and economic security, particularly in the face of historic heat waves and rising temperatures caused by the climate crisis. Agricultural biotechnology has allowed scientists to, for example, identify climate-resilient plant genes and species able to withstand weather extremes. Drought, flooding, and wildfires not only pose significant threat to farmers' livelihoods but also reliability in our food systems and consumers. In addition, genetically engineered plants have been bred to tolerate specific herbicides, protect against pests and diseases, and enhance nutritional capacity. I would like to thank Senator Todd Young for introducing these bills with me, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act and the Agriculture and National Security Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I read the measure that is being attempted to be brought up by this motion. I want to make one thing perfectly clear. It is already a Federal crime for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections. Every Member of the Senate should know that. In fact, any noncitizen convicted of even registering to vote could face up to 5 years in prison. Every single State has a law prohibiting noncitizens from voting in Federal elections. The consequences for noncitizens go beyond prison time. Claiming to be a U.S. citizen, under penalty of perjury, while registering to vote or while actually voting are deportable offenses. So it is already against the law with significant consequences for violations. And, in fact, experts have found that voting by noncitizens is exceedingly rare. A study of the 2016 election, for example, found that noncitizen votes accounted for--let me get this right--0.0001 percent. Doing the math, that is about 30 incidents of suspected--not even proven, suspected--noncitizens voting out of 23.5 million votes cast. What does that tell us? It tells us that our current laws are working. Don't just take my word for it. The Cato Institute agrees. In November of 2020, the Cato Institute found that ``noncitizens don't illegally vote in detectable numbers.'' So, colleagues, plain and simple, this bill is a solution in search of a problem. What it attempts to do is, once again, make it harder for eligible Americans to vote or to discourage people from voting, particularly American citizens who happen to be experiencing homelessness, for U.S. citizens of color, for U.S. citizens without driver's licenses. Do they have any less of a right to vote than any of us or less of a claim to our country? I speak today, Mr. President, as both a former California secretary of state as well as being a Member of this body. I have always believed that our democracy works best when as many eligible people participate. That is why I, along with several of our Democratic colleagues, introduced the Freedom to Vote Act. Now, the Freedom to Vote Act does not extend registration or voting rights to noncitizens. What does the Freedom to Vote Act do? It includes pro-voter policies for eligible Americans, like early voting, vote-by-mail. Imagine that, making it easier for eligible U.S. citizens to exercise their franchise. That is the American way. Whereas, this bill would only serve as yet another barrier to participation by imposing not just extremely burdensome but unnecessary requirements on registering to vote. Therefore, Mr. President, I object.

Mr. PADILLA. Reserving the right to object.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, this week has given the American people yet another clear window into the Republican mind when it comes to immigration: They are not serious about addressing immigration or about having secure or humanely managed borders. Instead, Republicans only seem to believe in highlighting the challenges at our border instead of actually taking action to address them, and it is because they are prioritizing how it may impact the results at the ballot box this November. That is their goal: to stoke more and more fear of immigrants every month between now and election day. So I have asked before, and I will ask again: My Republican colleagues, when are you ready to get serious about immigration reform? All but ending the practice of parole and cutting off legal pathways to immigrants is not a serious approach to the immigration problem. They know it can't happen in practice, and maybe that is exactly why they are calling for it. Let's be clear what this is and what this isn't. This is not updating the amnesty process, which is legal but in dire need of additional resources, so that we can provide due process for those who may be seeking amnesty and provide them determinations on their requests sooner rather than later. This is not updating work visa programs, because I know that all of us are hearing from employers across industries that there is a need for additional workers to keep our economy thriving. What we are talking about here with this measure is parole in place. Every President since Eisenhower has used the parole authority on a case-by-case basis to allow a safe and secure path for immigrants who are fleeing natural disasters or who need urgent, specialized medical care to come to the United States. That is what we are talking about. Both Republican and Democratic Presidents have used it because it is a humane way to help address global crises. I will give you some more recent examples. We have been able to provide protections for families of our military members. We have been able to provide protections for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. We have been able to provide protections for people who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, and for Haitians, more recently, and Venezuelans and those of other nationalities seeking refuge from violence and instability in their home countries. Taking it away will actually force more people to come to the southern border, instead of using other lawful pathways like parole to come in a more orderly way. Is that what Republicans really want-- because that is what would happen--to force more people to go to the border so they can continue to point fingers at a crisis of their own making? The President's ability to grant parole on a case-by-case basis to people fleeing horrific and dangerous conditions is actually fundamental to America's continued leadership and our proud history of embracing strategic immigration as part of our success. This bill represents a lack of respect for humanity and the laws of our Nation, and, therefore, I object.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to recognize the exemplary work of local educator and mentor Joshua Mandell, a teacher at Granada Hills Charter High School--GHCHS--in Granada Hills, CA. A Bay Area-native, Mr. Mandell holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in educational technology from the California State University, Northridge; a California Single Subject Credential in English and social science; and a Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development--CLAD--Certificate. Across his 7 years as an educator, whether teaching students in his ninth grade English, English Second Language, and International Baccalaureate Standard Level World Religion classes or serving as an adviser for the GHCHS Model United Nations--MUN--team, Mr. Mandell has helped countless students discover a love for learning. At conferences across the Nation--from Berkeley MUN in California or across the country to Dartmouth MUN or National High School MUN in New York City--Mr. Mandell empowers his students to look beyond the walls of GHCHS to the world around them. But back at home, for students at GHCHS, Mr. Mandell's classroom is where they feel most comfortable. Because of his unwavering empathy and passion for the subjects he teaches, his classroom has become a place for students to feel accepted, to feel part of a larger community, and to pursue their interests--wherever they might take them. Today, on behalf of the students and the community he serves, we are grateful for the lifechanging dedication of Joshua Mandell.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Donald ``D.'' Taylor for a lifetime of commitment to the labor movement and the empowerment of workers across the Nation. In March, Taylor stepped down as president of the UNITE HERE labor union, after dedicating four decades to mobilizing support and relentlessly advocating for working families. Born in Williamsburg, VA, D. Taylor started his journey in the food services industry at just 14, working at a Kentucky Fried Chicken, before eventually waiting tables part time while he attended Georgetown University. It was there that Taylor joined the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union--HERE--the start of what would become an extraordinary career fighting for dignity of workers. Not long after graduation, Taylor began work in the Reno-Tahoe area of Nevada for the Culinary Workers' Union, before eventually arriving in Las Vegas to help organize during a strike against the hotel-casino industry at a time when the union's membership had fallen to 18,000. Taylor quickly rose the ranks of leadership, serving as staff director and chief lieutenant to the head of the Culinary, before eventually being elected secretary-treasurer himself in 2002. By the time he was elected president of the international parent union UNITE HERE 10 years later, the local Culinary had tripled in size, becoming an essential resource for hospitality workers in the region, and a powerhouse in Nevada politics. Under his tenure as president of UNITE HERE from 2012 to 2024, over 140,500 workers have joined the union, making UNITE HERE the fastest growing private sector affiliate of the AFL-CIO. On a personal note, as the proud son of a UNITE HERE Local 11 retiree, looking back, I now know why families like mine could see a doctor when we were sick or could take time off of work each year for vacation--or could even afford to buy a home. It is because of a good union contract. And it is because of the leadership of people like D. Taylor. For decades, he has fought to improve the quality of working standards for service employees across the country, defending that most basic belief that no matter who you are or where you come from, ``One Job Should Be Enough.'' While we know his work advocating for working people doesn't end today, we honor D. Taylor for his tireless dedication and the transformative impact he has had on the lives of hundreds of thousands of workers.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, after nearly a quarter century of leadership, Dr. Bob Ross will step down this year from his position as president and CEO of the California Endowment. I rise today to honor the exemplary achievements of Dr. Ross in his role as a fierce health and safety advocate in California and for a lifetime of caring for communities across the country. Whether in his role as director of San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency, as commissioner for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, or as an instructor of clinical medicine, Dr. Ross' extensive background in public health made him the perfect candidate to be appointed president and CEO of the California Endowment in September 2000. In the time since his appointment, the California Endowment has helped change the culture of care in California for the better. Under Dr. Ross' leadership, the California Endowment has worked relentlessly in pursuit of ``Health for All,'' working to expand coverage for undocumented immigrants, farmworkers, and Dreamers; to improve health outcomes for communities of color; and to increase diversity in the healthcare workforce. Dr. Ross' leadership of the LA County Task Force on Alternatives to Incarceration helped reframe our approach to health in the justice system. His efforts have not only improved health outcomes but have also ensured that inclusion and equity are at the forefront of our health systems. And of course, as a founding board member of Covered California, Dr. Ross' dedication to fostering an equitable healthcare delivery system was pivotal in bringing the Affordable Care Act to life in California. While it is hard to believe there would ever come a day when the ``Yoda of Philanthropy'' would step down, we know the legacy he now leaves behind. It is a legacy of service, a commitment to equitable healthcare in California, and a roadmap for the California Endowment and all Californians to follow. We are profoundly grateful for Dr. Ross' unyielding commitment to a healthier, more equitable California.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the life of the Reverend Doctor Cecil L. ``Chip'' Murray, who passed away on April 5 at the age of 94 after nearly five decades of commitment to his south Los Angeles community. Rev. Murray was born on September 26, 1929, in Lakeland, FL, and moved with his family to West Palm Beach at a young age. From seventh grade until the end of high school, he served as a junior pastor and led services and sermons, showing an early interest in the ministry. But his path to the pulpit wasn't always so clear: after high school, he enrolled in Florida A&M University, an HBCU, and majored in history, before serving in the Air Force. Rev. Murray would serve in uniform for a decade, training in fighter jets and working as a radar intercept officer in the Korean war, even earning the Soldier's Medal of Valor. After a life-threatening plane crash, Rev. Murray decided to pursue his doctorate in divinity from Claremont School of Theology in Southern California. His early career in the ministry began at Primm AME Church in Pomona, CA, delivering sermons to just a seven-member congregation, a crowd that would one day be dwarfed by the community he would build in south Los Angeles. After stops in Kansas City and Seattle, Rev. Murray eventually landed at the historic First AME Church in Los Angeles, where a congregation of a few hundred soon became a congregation of thousands. During his tenure at First AME, Rev. Murray would become host to leaders like President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush and officiant of funerals for stars like Ray Charles and Eazy-E. But to many, it was his leadership during crisis in Los Angeles that left the most memorable imprint on the city. Throughout his life, he had a profound understanding of racial tensions in America. He was the descendant of slaves, had been beaten as a child in the Jim Crow South, and would later be threatened by racists plotting to bomb his church. But for all the violence he experienced, at the height of racial tensions during the Rodney King riots of 1992, he preached peace. As fires engulfed the city, he served as a calming presence for the community, even raising $1.5 million to rebuild from the ashes in the aftermath of the riots. As countless Angelenos know, his service didn't end there. For decades, his church was at the center of the community: a lifeline providing food and clothing, affordable housing and home loans, economic and employment assistance, and even starting a private school and providing thousands of college scholarships to students. Looking back, whether in 1994 or 2024, one wonders what south Los Angeles would look like without the faith and leadership of Rev. Dr. Cecil ``Chip'' Murray. As we celebrate him alongside his son Drew and all the loved ones and community members graced by his life, we remember the difference he made for Los Angeles and the legacy he now leaves behind.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I believe that our democracy works best when as many eligible people as possible participate in our democracy. That is not a controversial stance or a partisan talking point. That is the bedrock of our democracy, and something that I assume we all learned in high school civics class. That is why, in March of 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14019 directing Federal Agencies to take commonsense steps to promote nonpartisan voter registration and participation, including by partnering with State voter registration offices. Voter registration offices, by the way, are recognized and charged by Federal law, right? We have the National Motor Voter law just as one example from 1994. I am very familiar with this because, prior to joining the Senate, I served as California's Secretary of State. So in that lens, from that perspective, I enthusiastically support the administration's efforts to ensure that all eligible Americans are able to participate in our elections. In a democracy, nobody should be afraid of encouraging more eligible Americans to register to vote and to cast their ballot. Nobody should be afraid of increasing turnout--certainly not U.S. Senators. But at the same time, I also strongly support Congress's oversight role. That is why I have already engaged in conversations with the administration on the steps that they are taking to implement the Executive order and help more eligible Americans to vote, because that is what this straightforward Executive order does. It simply directs Federal Agencies to take appropriate steps, mindful of the law, within their existing authorities--not asking to do anything they haven't done before--to help eligible Americans to vote. Nowhere in the order does it say help Democrats or help Republicans--any eligible American. So if my colleague is interested in joining me to receive these updates from the administration on their implementation, I would be more than happy to facilitate such a meeting and conversation. But this bill, the bill before us now, is simply the latest Republican attempt to undermine the Biden administration's efforts to expand voting to all eligible Americans. Earlier this year, I voted alongside my Democratic colleagues against efforts that would have blocked funding to implement this Executive order, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to protect the right to vote and efforts to promote voter access. And, again, I am more than happy to work with my colleague, any of my colleagues, to have productive conversations with the administration, but this bill? This bill will only serve to undermine the work being done to promote voter registration and participation; so, therefore, Mr. President, I object.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care, PATCH Act. This legislation would boost our continued efforts to support our Nation's healthcare safety net for kids across America. The PATCH Act would provide $6 billion over 10 years to increase pediatric healthcare capacity and improve dedicated children's hospitals and pediatric preparedness response. These funds will prioritize increased critical care capacity and telehealth technology, as well as address attentive care workforce shortages, particularly for high Medicaid providers who serve child populations with the greatest health disparities. Matching requirements supporting contributions from the private sector would double the impact of this Federal investment, greatly increasing pediatric healthcare capacity for all children across the country. Children represent over 20 percent of the Nation's population and have unique health needs. As a result, pediatric hospital facilities, which are at the frontline of care for children, require separate investments to provide appropriate treatment and care and have not kept up with the level of need. I would like to thank Congressman Cardenas for leading this legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care Act as soon as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care, PATCH Act. This legislation would boost our continued efforts to support our Nation's healthcare safety net for kids across America. The PATCH Act would provide $6 billion over 10 years to increase pediatric healthcare capacity and improve dedicated children's hospitals and pediatric preparedness response. These funds will prioritize increased critical care capacity and telehealth technology, as well as address attentive care workforce shortages, particularly for high Medicaid providers who serve child populations with the greatest health disparities. Matching requirements supporting contributions from the private sector would double the impact of this Federal investment, greatly increasing pediatric healthcare capacity for all children across the country. Children represent over 20 percent of the Nation's population and have unique health needs. As a result, pediatric hospital facilities, which are at the frontline of care for children, require separate investments to provide appropriate treatment and care and have not kept up with the level of need. I would like to thank Congressman Cardenas for leading this legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care Act as soon as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce legislation to expand the Joshua Tree National Park by approximately 17,842 acres of public lands. In 2016, the National Park Service, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, prepared the Eagle Mountain Boundary Study for an area Mountains, located in Riverside County, CA. The purpose of the study and environmental assessment was to consider whether to expand Joshua Tree National Park to include additional lands and to develop alternatives for protecting cultural, natural, and scenic resources related to the purpose of the national park. NPS' selected alternative recommends expanding the National Park by the more than 17,000 acres of federally managed lands covered by my legislation. Notably, these lands are adjacent to the national park. NPS found that doing so could allow for greater protection of existing habitat, restoration opportunities, and landscape connectivity for wildlife such as bighorn sheep, as well as new visitor opportunities. I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass this straightforward boundary adjustment as soon as possible.

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce legislation to rename the visitor center at Joshua Tree National Park in honor of Senator Dianne Feinstein. This legislation would redesignate the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park to the ``Senator Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center.'' Dianne Feinstein was a towering figure not just in modern California politics but in the history of our State and our Nation. Her contributions to our Nation, particularly in environmental conservation, are a reminder of the public power of public service. For Californians, so much of our lands have been preserved thanks to her singular drive and leadership, from the redwoods of the Headwaters and the San Francisco Bay, to Lake Tahoe and, most notably, the California desert. Senator Feinstein was known as a great protector of the California desert, and some have lovingly referred to her as the ``Queen of the Desert''. Senator Feinstein was the driving force behind the establishment of Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, the Mojave National Preserve, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, the Mojave Trails National Monument, the Sand to Snow National Monument, and the Castle Mountains National Monument. In all, it is estimated that Senator Feinstein protected over 3 million acres of the California desert. In 2019, on the 25th anniversary of the passage of Senator Feinstein's landmark California Desert Protection Act, Senator Feinstein wrote: ``When I think of the California desert, I think of magnificent landscapes and mountain vistas. I think of beautiful species like bighorn sheep, mule deer and desert tortoises. I think of unique vegetation like the beautiful wildflower blooms and iconic Joshua trees. And I think of the long history of local Native American tribes. The California desert is a true American treasure. Our efforts over the past 25 years have resulted in the largest areas of public lands protected in the lower 48 states--that is something truly to celebrate.'' It is only fitting that we celebrate Senator Feinstein's memory by renaming the visitor center at Joshua Tree National Park in her honor. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation as soon as possible.

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act. The Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act is a commonsense bill that would expand the Mojave National Preserve to include the land within the Castle Mountains National Monument. The Mojave National Preserve, located in Southern California in the Mojave Desert, was established by the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, which was one of the late Senator Feinstein's signature achievements. Today, the Mojave National Preserve is one of the largest national preserves within the continental United States and plays an important role in safeguarding a diverse group of ecological habitats, mountains, and canyons in the region. The adjacent Castle Mountains National Monument is surrounded on three sides by the Mojave National Preserve and is also home to important historic resources along with resident populations of and migratory corridors for desert bighorn sheep, quail, chukar, rabbit, mule deer, and other big game. Expanding the Mojave National Preserve to encompass Castle Mountains will simplify management of this vast desert landscape. I am proud to work with a broad range of stakeholders to introduce this commonsense legislation to expand the Mojave National Preserve. Doing so would allow the National Park Service to further the conservation values and permanent protections in the Mojave Desert while boosting public access and outdoor recreation to the area. I look forward to working with our colleagues to pass the Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act. The Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act is a commonsense bill that would expand the Mojave National Preserve to include the land within the Castle Mountains National Monument. The Mojave National Preserve, located in Southern California in the Mojave Desert, was established by the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, which was one of the late Senator Feinstein's signature achievements. Today, the Mojave National Preserve is one of the largest national preserves within the continental United States and plays an important role in safeguarding a diverse group of ecological habitats, mountains, and canyons in the region. The adjacent Castle Mountains National Monument is surrounded on three sides by the Mojave National Preserve and is also home to important historic resources along with resident populations of and migratory corridors for desert bighorn sheep, quail, chukar, rabbit, mule deer, and other big game. Expanding the Mojave National Preserve to encompass Castle Mountains will simplify management of this vast desert landscape. I am proud to work with a broad range of stakeholders to introduce this commonsense legislation to expand the Mojave National Preserve. Doing so would allow the National Park Service to further the conservation values and permanent protections in the Mojave Desert while boosting public access and outdoor recreation to the area. I look forward to working with our colleagues to pass the Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce legislation to rename the visitor center at Joshua Tree National Park in honor of Senator Dianne Feinstein. This legislation would redesignate the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park to the ``Senator Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center.'' Dianne Feinstein was a towering figure not just in modern California politics but in the history of our State and our Nation. Her contributions to our Nation, particularly in environmental conservation, are a reminder of the public power of public service. For Californians, so much of our lands have been preserved thanks to her singular drive and leadership, from the redwoods of the Headwaters and the San Francisco Bay, to Lake Tahoe and, most notably, the California desert. Senator Feinstein was known as a great protector of the California desert, and some have lovingly referred to her as the ``Queen of the Desert''. Senator Feinstein was the driving force behind the establishment of Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, the Mojave National Preserve, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, the Mojave Trails National Monument, the Sand to Snow National Monument, and the Castle Mountains National Monument. In all, it is estimated that Senator Feinstein protected over 3 million acres of the California desert. In 2019, on the 25th anniversary of the passage of Senator Feinstein's landmark California Desert Protection Act, Senator Feinstein wrote: ``When I think of the California desert, I think of magnificent landscapes and mountain vistas. I think of beautiful species like bighorn sheep, mule deer and desert tortoises. I think of unique vegetation like the beautiful wildflower blooms and iconic Joshua trees. And I think of the long history of local Native American tribes. The California desert is a true American treasure. Our efforts over the past 25 years have resulted in the largest areas of public lands protected in the lower 48 states--that is something truly to celebrate.'' It is only fitting that we celebrate Senator Feinstein's memory by renaming the visitor center at Joshua Tree National Park in her honor. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation as soon as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce legislation to expand the Joshua Tree National Park by approximately 17,842 acres of public lands. In 2016, the National Park Service, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, prepared the Eagle Mountain Boundary Study for an area Mountains, located in Riverside County, CA. The purpose of the study and environmental assessment was to consider whether to expand Joshua Tree National Park to include additional lands and to develop alternatives for protecting cultural, natural, and scenic resources related to the purpose of the national park. NPS' selected alternative recommends expanding the National Park by the more than 17,000 acres of federally managed lands covered by my legislation. Notably, these lands are adjacent to the national park. NPS found that doing so could allow for greater protection of existing habitat, restoration opportunities, and landscape connectivity for wildlife such as bighorn sheep, as well as new visitor opportunities. I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass this straightforward boundary adjustment as soon as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I am inspired by Senator Markey's remarks, and I am pleased to join him in this debate in opposition to the measure. We are speaking today because the American people deserve to know what is at stake during today's vote. And, no, it is not the latest fabricated Republican electric vehicle horror story. No one is coming to slap a Biden bumper sticker on your car and take your gas-powered car off the road. Americans are smarter than that. Americans want reliable cars that can get them to work, to school, wherever they need to go, powered by fuel that doesn't break the bank. Americans also want a future where their kids, our kids, and our grandkids can breathe clean air. And we all want a planet that is not burning to the ground. Unfortunately, too many of our Republican colleagues will tell you that we can't have both, that we have to choose. It can be either the economy or the environment. So for everyone who is watching, everybody who is listening, please know that that is a false choice. Yes, the EPA rule will improve public health and protect our planet. It will also help create good jobs and strengthen the auto industry. It sets ambitious goals for reducing emissions while giving automakers the flexibility that they need and they have asked for to actually meet those goals through whatever combination of new electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or hybrid vehicles that they are best prepared to make and offer. So, to my Republican colleagues, I also have a question. How many times have we heard you say: Well, let's make it in America. Well, here is your chance. Would you welcome more good-paying jobs in Idaho or West Virginia? We do in California, because we would rather have it here and not overseas. I also hear some people argue: Well, our domestic supply chain and our targeted infrastructure isn't quite ready for this electric vehicle transition. Well, this rule actually reduces the risks for domestic manufacturers and gives them more certainty to make necessary long-term investments in domestic manufacturing and charging infrastructure that we all want to see. So, colleagues, we have a tremendous economic opportunity before us. I ask you all to just take a look at our home State of California, where we have proven that it is not an either-or between the economy and the environment. California has led the Nation not just with bold targets for clean and renewable sources of electricity but for transitioning to a zero-emission transportation sector. As a result, clean car sales are far outpacing even our expectations. In 2023, zero-emission vehicles made up a quarter of all light-duty sales in our State--the most popular State in the nation. If California was its own country, it would be fourth in the world in electric vehicle sales. So, not only can it happen, it is happening, and it is because of that type of economic potential that automakers across the country are fully committed to this electric vehicle transition. They know that this EPA final rule is ambitious, but it is also achievable. And labor unions, including but not limited to the UAW, are all in because they, too, reject the fearmongering that says tackling the climate crisis is going to come at the cost of so many union jobs. Environmental and community advocates are all in on this because this is what the climate crisis demands of us. But we are still hearing from Republicans that Americans are losing their ability to buy the vehicle of their choice. That is wrong. For all the fearmongering, for all the bad-faith arguments, let's be clear: Under the EPA's rule, not a single American will be forced to buy a car that they don't want, and not a single manufacturer will be given a quota for a specific type of vehicle to make. With all that said, I will acknowledge that Republicans are correct about one thing: These are big goals for our country. Colleagues, a century ago, it was American innovation and manufacturing that led to the automobile revolution, and you would be wrong to think that the American people can't do it again. So I urge my colleagues to stand with us in setting ambitious goals for our future to give the American people a choice to grow our economy, and we can do it by voting no. I yield the floor.